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23 The People’s Leaders
The task of organization for action needs, first of all, the development
of people’s leaders, says Noy Miano. The question is so crucial that we must
clarify the concept of leadership itself.
What kind of “leaders” do we have today? Well, there is the Cassius Clay
type who says, “Follow me, I am the best! I am the greatest!” Well, actually,
Noy Miano says, the Philippine version is more subtle than Clay. He does not
say, “I am the best!” rather, he says, “Modesty aside, I am the
best!"
Then there is the Santa Clans type, Noy Miano continues, who tries to
lead by giving material dole-outs and who hardly recognizes the dignity of the
recipients.
Is a benefactor necessarily a leader; or is even a hero or a genius for
that matter, necessarily a leader? I
think not because while they may appear to solve the problems of the
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people for them, the
function of the true leader is something else. It is to inspire the people to
solve the problem themselves.
A favorite analogy used by the peasants to describe the functions of a
leader is by comparing him/her to a mirror. The leader,
says Noy Miano, is like a mirror, but a special kind of mirror that absorbs the
image of the people; purifies that image; and then, throws it back to the
people so that they themselves will be inspired with their own image. In other
words, Noy Miano continues, the leader is there not so much to impress but to
inspire.
When the leader speaks before the people, Noy Miano explains, he/she may
not be the most eloquent or even the most logical speaker. But the leader does
not fail to inspire the people because they see and hear in him/her their own
selves, their own aspirations, their own dignity. How
different is a true leader from fake charlatans who can only move the people to
say: “This man much be brilliant, indeed, because we
can’t understand what he’s talking about!”
Like a mirror, the leader’s first function is to absorb the image of the
people – culturally, politically, and so on. This the
leader does by being very close to the people, by being integrated with them,
one of them. He knows their situation, their dreams and aspirations, their
strengths and weakness. He does not condone their shortcomings but he
understands why they are there.
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In other words, the first function of the leader, Noy Miano goes on, is
not to lead but to follow. The ordinary “leader” might say, “Here I am, your leader!
I will lead, and you follow me!” And the people who are still unaware might
even respond with, “Sure, we are behind you all the way!”
But when this leader looks back, he’ll find out that the people, indeed,
are behind him; but he’s far away from them and they’re ten kilometers
behind.
It us for the true leader, however, to say, Noy Miano continues: “There
go my people, and I must follow them for I am their leader.” Just like in the
ocean-Noy Miano's voice is a bit tired now, and
somebody hands him a cup of tea - just like in the ocean, one sometimes sees a
school of fish swimming hither and thither, not knowing where to go. But one
fish is sensing the impulse of the others and follows them. Before long, he
darts forward and the others follow; he is the true leader who follows before
be leads.
Was not God’s example just like that? Noy Miano asks. In His desire to
lead people to salvation, the first thing He did was to be born like them; even
in a stable in
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that He could lead them.
The next function of the leader, Noy Miano is sill at it, is a bit more
difficult. After having absorbed the image of the people, it is now his task to
refine this image.
Every morning when we look at the mirror, we see the most inspiring
image in the world. The group is laughing with Noy Miano. But he adds, you must
in all honesty admit that oftentimes that image needs a lot of purification and
refinement
As humans, we, the people, have our sins, and vices and shortcomings
that mar the beautiful human image – made unto God’s likeness. And so, if the
first quality of the leader is to be able to integrate himself/herself with the
people, the second quality is to have courage to criticize ourselves – which
the leader must stimulate.
The true leader, then, must not only absorb the good qualities of the
people. He/She must also be brave enough to say the truth about our negative
aspects. More, the true leader needs that sense, which he develops in the
process of integration to distinguish the real from the apparent, and the
permanent aspiration from the passing fancy,
In other words, Noy Miano emphasizes, the true leader is ready to
be crucified even by his own people, if necessary.
The third function of the leader is to reflect the people’s image back
to them so that they will be inspired with their own
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image. How is this done?
Mainly in the leaders own life: in the way he moves about and talks with the
people; in the way he comports himself/herself when entering even the humblest hut;
above all, in the way he approaches the problems of the people whether he tries
to find a solution to these problems for the people or with them.
The true leader, then, another peasant says at this point, is not so
much like a star shining with his own light in the distant heavens. For when we
see that star, we say, “What a beautiful star; look, how beautiful!” Yet, we
know that it is too far away and too much on its own.
Rather, the true leader is more like a satellite of the people that is
so close to them and feels their pull: that shines only with the people’s light
and is their reflection; that inspires the people to rise above themselves.
Or perhaps, says Aling Ebya,
leaders really are more like the waves of the sea. They happen to be the more conspicuous
pans of the ocean but themselves are of the ocean, and of the same substance
with it. The ocean will always bring forth its waves as the people their
leaders.